An Indonesian ferry carrying 271 people caught fire in waters off Java on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and dozens missing. Rescuers and passing vessels evacuated hundreds from the burning ship, according to officials.
The Mutiara Sentosa 2 was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi with 232 passengers and 39 crew members when the fire broke out between 6 a.m. And 7 a.m. In waters off Sumenep regency, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency said. The ferry operator reported the incident to the Surabaya search and rescue office about an hour later after receiving information from the captain that the vessel was on fire near the northern tip of Madura island, though contact was later lost.
By 9:45 a.m., authorities determined the ferry was about 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi island after communicating with nearby cargo vessel Meratus Project 3, which was unable to approach the burning vessel closely due to its flammable load.
Footage from the National Search and Rescue Agency showed thick black smoke billowing from the ferry across much of the ship. Videos on social media showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, clustered on deck and upper sections awaiting rescue, with some jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke spread. The ferry was reported to be nearly engulfed by flames, with passengers gathered on the bridge and bow. A tugboat and another passing vessel began evacuating passengers shortly before 10 a.m.
By Sunday afternoon, several nearby vessels had rescued 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies. At least 41 people remained unaccounted for. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Search and rescue teams dispatched a vessel from Surabaya, with officials estimating about six hours to reach the scene. A rigid inflatable boat from the Sumenep rescue post was sent but later returned to shore due to rough seas. The Indonesian Navy deployed a warship to assist.
The 160-meter-long ferry serves the Surabaya-Makassar route, a voyage typically taking around 40 hours and used primarily by domestic travelers and cargo transport between Java and Sulawesi. Indonesia's archipelago of more than 17,000 islands relies heavily on ferries for travel, though disasters occur regularly with weak safety enforcement often cited as a factor.